Russell La Forte

Air Commodore Russell William 'Russ' La Forte, CBE is a British Royal Air Force officer. He is currently serving as Commander of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands and previously served as Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment.

Early life and education

Born in 1960 to Edward La Forte, he was educated at Manor Primary School, Didcot, and Wallingford Grammar School, Wallingford, Berkshire. He was a member of the Air Training Corps as a teenager.^[1]

La Forte joined the military after leaving school, rather than attend university. In later life, he studied history through the Open University, a distance learning institution. He graduated in 1994 with a First Class Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. He graduated from King's College London in 2001 with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in defence studies.^[2]

Military career

In 1978, La Forte joined the RAF Regiment as a gunner.^[3] He served tours in West Germany and in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.^[2]

On 20 May 1982, the then Senior Aircraftman La Forte was commissioned into the Security Branch of the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer with seniority from 25 September 1980. He was given the service number 8174289Q.^[4] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 25 September 1986.^[5] As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1991,^[6] and to wing commander on 1 January 1999.^[7]

He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 2004.^[8] From 2007 to 2009, he served as Station Commander of RAF Honington. He then attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.^[9] He then served as Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment from February 2010 to January 2012.^[10] In December 2011, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff Training, HQ No. 22 Group.^[3] In March 2013, he was appointed Commander British Force South Atlantic Islands.^[11][12]

Honours and decorations

In the 1995 New Year Honours, La Forte was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).^[13] He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[14][15]

He was appointed Aide de Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth II on 1 November 2007.<ref name=LG 13 November 2007"">The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58509. p. 16428. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2013.</ref>

References

1. Allen, Emily (18 December 2007). "Airman to serve the Queen". The Oxford Times. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
2. "AIR COMMODORE R W LA FORTE C BE MA BA RAF" (pdf). Media. Royal British Legion. 9 March 14. Retrieved 18 March 2015. Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. "RAF HONINGTON NAMES A NEW ROAD AFTER ITS OUTGOING COMMANDANT GENERAL". RAF Honington. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49028. p. 8228. 21 June 1982. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50696. p. 13878. 27 October 1986. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 52591. pp. 10091–10093. 1 July 1991. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 55365. pp. 59–60. 4 January 1999. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57168. p. 128. 6 January 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
9. "New Station Commander at RAF Honington". 24 February 2009. RAF Honington. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
10. "SENIOR ROYAL AIR FORCE APPOINTMENTS" (pdf). gulabin.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
11. "Trading places" (pdf). Royal Air Force News. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
12. "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND TRI-SERVICE SENIOR APPOINTMENTS" (pdf). gulabin.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
13. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53893. pp. 7–8. 30 December 1994. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
14. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59090. p. 6. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
15. "Queen's birthday honours list: Military". The Guardian. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2013.